The Original ‘Storage Wars’ Cast Then and Now: Brandi Passante Still Bidding After Jarrod Split, Darrell’s Tragic Passing
From Dave Hester's 'Yup!' to Brandi and Jarrod's split—see what the treasure hunters look like in 2026
While streaming has largely eliminated the act of flipping through the channels, hunting for a decent show to keep you occupied for an hour or so, there’s something a little bit special about stumbling upon a random series that, before you know it, has you hooked for hours at a time—and that’s what Storage Wars has been doing since it premiered back in 2010.
The show follows a group of treasure hunters who travel to auctions and bid on abandoned storage units in the hopes of striking gold. Unable to sift through what’s inside, these bidders can merely take a glimpse from the outside, and based on what’s visible, decide if it’s worth going for—and will turn a profit. While some units go for a few hundred bucks, others have gone for thousands, and if there’s one thing Storage Wars has taught viewers at home, it’s that you never truly know what you’re going to find.
While Storage Wars is still on the air, with Season 16 premiering over the summer, many of the faces we were introduced to when the show first debuted have come and gone, and on April 22, it was revealed that longtime favorite Darrell Sheets had died at 67. Here, see what the original Storage Wars cast has been up to since 2010.
Dave Hester, 61: The stroke and ‘fake locker’ lawsuit
Dave Hester was one of the original cast members on the series, and you likely remember his signature “Yup!” when it came time to bid on a locker he wanted. The former owner of the Rags to Riches Thrift Store in Costa Mesa, California, Dave had an on-again-off-again relationship with the show over the years.
For the first three seasons, Hester was a staple on the series, but a few years after the show took off, he was unhappy with the way things were going. As reported by Looper, Hester filed a complaint through the Los Angeles Superior Court against A&E, which stated that the network was planting valuable items in lockers to keep the show interesting to viewers. He also added that the network would help out some of the lower bidders by paying for their lockers, further adding to the lack of integrity in the bidding process. As a result of this, Hester was fired from the show, which later resulted in a wrongful termination lawsuit. Ultimately, he returned to the show’s fifth season. He took a break from Seasons 13, 14 and 15 after suffering from a stroke, but was back for the show’s most recent season.
Darrell Sheets, 67: Remembering the TV personality
Darell Sheets was another fixture on the show from the very start, and for a while, he was one of the most consistent bidders. In 2019, he revealed on Instagram that he had two heart attacks, but in the years that followed, he continued to appear on the show until the most recent Season 16. Tragically, on April 22, 2026, the Lake Havasu City Police Department revealed that he was found dead as a result of suicide.
Barry Weiss, 74: Life after his motorcycle crash
Barry Weiss was a quirky character fans loved to watch on Storage Wars, and while he typically didn’t win big, he was seemingly in it for the love of the game as an avid collector. Barry appeared in the first four seasons before taking a break for quite some time and later returned for the 14th and 15th seasons. Before his return to the show, the television personality was in a motorcycle crash that left him hospitalized for two months, as reported by TV Insider. Barry did not appear in Season 16 of Storage Wars.
Brandi Passante, 45, and Jarrod Schulz, 48: Why they finally split
A fan-favorite duo, Brandi and Jarrod were a couple who made their debut on the show’s first season. Though they often butted heads as Jarrod tended to disregard their budget, fans enjoyed their banter and dynamic. However, in 2018, Brandi and Jarrod split, though they both remained on the show, bidding separately. In 2021, after the two had split, a dispute at a bar between the two led to Jarrod being charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence battery. Jarrod’s time on the show concluded with Season 13, while Brandi remains an active cast member.
Dan, 63, and Laura Dotson, 57: Then and now, still auctioneering
Dan and Laura Dotson have been consistent figures on the show from the very start, and fans couldn’t imagine Storage Wars without the two main auctioneers we’ve come to love over the years. “Don’t forget to pay the lady!”
Whether you’ve been watching since 2010 or just discovered the show, there’s something comforting about knowing Storage Wars continues to deliver the thrills, surprises, and yes, occasional treasures that keep us coming back for more.
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